Railroad spike anchor



J1me 1931- J. A. LAMBERT RAILRCAD SPIKE ANCHOR Filed July 7, 1930 Swuwwtoz JH. L ambarl Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STAT JOHN A. LAMBERT, or SPOKANE, wnsnine'ron RAILROAD SPIKE ANCHOR Application filed July 7, 1930.

This invention relates to an improved railroad spike anchor and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device of this character which will tend to prevent a railroad spike From becoming loosened or disengaged from a tie.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spike anchor which will need no further attention after installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spike anchor which may be formed from a single piece of material and which may be manufactured cheaply.

Other and incidental objects oi? the invention not specifically mentioned in the foregoing, will appear during the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a pair of the devices in position on a fish plate.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional. view of one of the devices in position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the devices as it would appear before installation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the meeting end portions of conventional railroad rails. Fitting the rail ends are fish plates 2 in which are formed the usual spike receiving slots 3.

The improved spike anchor forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a plate 4 which is preferably stamped as a right angular blank from resilient sheet metal. The plate includes legs 5 and 6 and formed in the vertex port-ion of said plate is a preferably square spike receiving opening 7 which is located medially with respect to the leg 6, corresponding side edges of said opening being substantially parallel to the side edges of the leg 5 and opposite corresponding side edges of said opening being substantially parallel to the side edges of the leg 6. As seen the drawings, the leg 5 Serial No. 466,251.

more clearly in Figure 3 of of the plate is bent downwardly near its free end portion to form a hook 8 while the leg 6 is provided with a straight longitudinal edge and an inclined longitudinal edge which slopes toward the former edge to form a tapered tongue, the

leg 6 being bent upwardly at a right angle to the vertex portion of the plate.

Referring to a single device as typical,

said device is, in practice, first placed upon the fish plate 2 about the lower the spike receiving opening with the adjacent the fish plate.

with the hook 8 engaging margin of said plate so that 7 is in alinement spike receiving slot 3 in An ordinary railroad spike is then inserted through the opening 7 o the device and driven into position, when the leg 6 of the plate is of the spike in bent to overlie the head abutting relation therewith for effectually securing said spike in position. Thus, as

will be readily understood,

the device will tend to prevent the spike from working loose. of installation, rights Attention is directed to Preferably, for convenience the devices are formed as and lefts.

the fact that, inasmuch as the leg 6 is provided with an inclined longitudinal edge defining a tapered tongue, said leg position,

will, when being bent into clear the nut of the track bolt sov that possible mutilation of the leg will be prevented. Furthermore, of a track wrench with the nut may be ed. Attention is that, as the leg 6 freeing the head of the spike,

be removed and ready engagement eliectfurther directed to the fact 7 may be bent upwardly for said spike may anchor used again.

the spike Having thus fully described the invention,

I claim:

angularly dispo 1. A spike anchor including a plate having sed legs and provided near the junction of said legs with a spike receiv ing opening, on provide a hook e of said legs being bent to for engagement with a fish plate and the other of said legs being adapted to be bent to engage the head of a spike extending through said opening whereby said spike will be held in position in a tie.

2. A railroad spike anchor including a plate having angularly disposed legs and provided near the junction of said legs With a spike receiving opening, one of said legs being bent to form a hook for engagement With a fish plate and the other of said legs being tapered and adapted to be bent to overlie the head of a railroad spike extending through said opening whereby said spike Will be held in position in a tie.

In testimony whereof I affix my JOHN A. LAMBERT. [1 8.]

sign ature. 

